This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55058408
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| SNP MP Ian Blackford apologises for Covid travel breach claim | SNP MP Ian Blackford apologises for Covid travel breach claim |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Mr Blackford said he was wrong to have publicly queried Mr Taylor on Twitter | Mr Blackford said he was wrong to have publicly queried Mr Taylor on Twitter |
| The SNP's Westminster leader has apologised after being accused of bullying a photographer who he suggested may have broken Covid rules. | The SNP's Westminster leader has apologised after being accused of bullying a photographer who he suggested may have broken Covid rules. |
| Ian Blackford posted a tweet claiming that Ollie Taylor lives in the south of England, and questioned why he had taken a photograph of the Northern Lights in Caithness. | Ian Blackford posted a tweet claiming that Ollie Taylor lives in the south of England, and questioned why he had taken a photograph of the Northern Lights in Caithness. |
| But Mr Taylor said he moved to Caithness earlier this year. | But Mr Taylor said he moved to Caithness earlier this year. |
| Mr Blackford has since deleted his tweet and apologised to Mr Taylor. | Mr Blackford has since deleted his tweet and apologised to Mr Taylor. |
| Speaking to the Press and Journal newspaper, Mr Taylor said he had tweeted a photograph of the Northern Lights that had been taken about five minutes away from his house in the Highlands. | Speaking to the Press and Journal newspaper, Mr Taylor said he had tweeted a photograph of the Northern Lights that had been taken about five minutes away from his house in the Highlands. |
| He accused Mr Blackford of "trying to stir up public hatred" against him. | He accused Mr Blackford of "trying to stir up public hatred" against him. |
| And he said the MP could have "saved himself a bit of embarrassment" by messaging him privately about his concerns rather than tweeting publicly. | And he said the MP could have "saved himself a bit of embarrassment" by messaging him privately about his concerns rather than tweeting publicly. |
| What are Scotland's new travel restrictions? | What are Scotland's new travel restrictions? |
| Mr Blackford had tweeted in response to Mr Taylor's photograph: "As you live in the south of England and travel to Scotland is only for permitted reasons I am sure there will be a valid reason as to why you are posting a photo from the north of Scotland last night?" | Mr Blackford had tweeted in response to Mr Taylor's photograph: "As you live in the south of England and travel to Scotland is only for permitted reasons I am sure there will be a valid reason as to why you are posting a photo from the north of Scotland last night?" |
| After facing a backlash from other Twitter users, some of whom accused him of attempting to orchestrate an online "pile-on", Mr Blackford deleted the tweet. | After facing a backlash from other Twitter users, some of whom accused him of attempting to orchestrate an online "pile-on", Mr Blackford deleted the tweet. |
| CaithnessLast nights lil #Auroa display here in the north of #Scotland Been away from twitter for a lil while, hope everyone is all good :) #ThePhotoHour @StormHour @VisitScotland @esa @LiveAuroraNetw1 @spacewxwatch @spaceweather pic.twitter.com/C3r9HN31xs | |
| He also posted an apology to Mr Taylor, saying: "As the local MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber I know my constituents feel very strongly about the breaking of travel restrictions that we see across the Highlands and islands, which puts people's lives and our public services at risk. | He also posted an apology to Mr Taylor, saying: "As the local MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber I know my constituents feel very strongly about the breaking of travel restrictions that we see across the Highlands and islands, which puts people's lives and our public services at risk. |
| "I will continue to stand up for my constituents who frequently raise these concerns with me but I recognise that it was wrong to query an individual on Twitter and I apologise to @OllieTPhoto for my earlier post, which I have deleted." | "I will continue to stand up for my constituents who frequently raise these concerns with me but I recognise that it was wrong to query an individual on Twitter and I apologise to @OllieTPhoto for my earlier post, which I have deleted." |
| Mr Blackford's constituency does not include Caithness. | Mr Blackford's constituency does not include Caithness. |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said Mr Blackford had "picked on and bullied" a private citizen by "accusing him of breaking the travel restrictions when he had no evidence of him doing so". | Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said Mr Blackford had "picked on and bullied" a private citizen by "accusing him of breaking the travel restrictions when he had no evidence of him doing so". |
| Mr Rennie added: "Ian Blackford has form for his remarks about people from England who happen to be in Scotland. | Mr Rennie added: "Ian Blackford has form for his remarks about people from England who happen to be in Scotland. |
| "This behaviour could only add to the problems of anti-English sentiment in Scotland." | "This behaviour could only add to the problems of anti-English sentiment in Scotland." |
| LEVELS: What are the restrictions in your area? | LEVELS: What are the restrictions in your area? |
| NUMBERS: Five key figures to watch out for | NUMBERS: Five key figures to watch out for |
| LOCKDOWN: Six months that changed our lives | LOCKDOWN: Six months that changed our lives |
| CASES: Where are the latest cases in Scotland? | CASES: Where are the latest cases in Scotland? |